AI_SEO_ANALYZE
Analyze content for SEO optimization against a target keyword
=AI_SEO_ANALYZE(content, targetKeyword, [url])Returns: string[][]
Overview
AI_SEO_ANALYZE performs a comprehensive SEO content audit powered by AI, evaluating how well a piece of content is optimized for a specific target keyword. It goes far beyond simple keyword density checks — the function analyzes semantic relevance, content structure, heading usage, keyword placement, readability, and topical coverage to produce actionable optimization recommendations. The results are returned as a structured key-value table that you can immediately use to brief writers or prioritize optimization work.
Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
content | string | Yes | The text content to analyze for SEO. Can be a cell reference containing article text, a page body, or any content you want optimized. |
targetKeyword | string | Yes | The primary keyword or phrase you want the content to rank for in search engines. |
url | string | No | Optional URL of the published page. When provided, the analysis includes metadata and structural factors from the live page. |
Examples
Analyze a blog post for a target keyword
Evaluates the blog post text in A2 against the keyword "best project management tools" and returns an SEO analysis table.
=AI_SEO_ANALYZE(A2, "best project management tools")Output
| Metric | Result |
| Overall Score | 72/100 |
| Keyword in Title | Yes |
| Keyword in First 100 Words | No - Add keyword to introduction |
| Content Length | 1,450 words (Recommend 2,000+) |
| Heading Structure | Good - H2s present, add H3 subheadings |
| Readability | Grade 8 (Good) |
| Top Recommendation | Add target keyword to the first paragraph and include more comparison data |
Audit a published page with URL
Performs a full SEO audit including the live page metadata and structure.
=AI_SEO_ANALYZE(A2, "CRM software for small business", "https://example.com/crm-guide")Output
| Metric | Result |
| Overall Score | 65/100 |
| Title Tag | Missing target keyword - Currently "The Ultimate Guide to CRM" |
| Meta Description | Too short (95 chars) - Expand to 150-160 chars with keyword |
| Content Depth | Moderate - Missing sections on pricing and integrations |
| Internal Links | 3 found - Add 2-3 more to related content |
| Top Recommendation | Rewrite title tag to include "CRM software for small business" and add pricing comparison section |
Bulk audit a content calendar
References content in column B and target keywords in column C. Drag down to audit every piece in your editorial calendar.
=AI_SEO_ANALYZE(B2, C2)Output
| Metric | Result |
| Overall Score | 84/100 |
| Keyword Density | 1.8% (Optimal) |
| Semantic Relevance | Strong - Covers related topics well |
| Content Length | 2,200 words (Good) |
| Top Recommendation | Add FAQ section to capture featured snippet opportunity |
Analyze a product page
Evaluates a product page against a commercial keyword to improve e-commerce rankings.
=AI_SEO_ANALYZE(A2, "wireless noise canceling headphones", "https://shop.example.com/headphones")Output
| Metric | Result |
| Overall Score | 58/100 |
| Product Description | Too thin (180 words) - Expand to 500+ words |
| Keyword Placement | Missing from H1 and first paragraph |
| Schema Markup | Product schema detected but missing reviews |
| Top Recommendation | Add detailed product description with keyword in H1, include customer reviews section |
Use Cases
Content Audit at Scale
Audit all blog posts for a client website by exporting content into Google Sheets and running AI_SEO_ANALYZE against each page target keyword, creating a prioritized optimization roadmap.
Editorial Calendar Optimization
Before publishing, run every draft through AI_SEO_ANALYZE to catch missing keywords, thin content, and structural issues, ensuring every article is optimized before it goes live.
Product Page Optimization
Analyze hundreds of product descriptions against their target keywords to identify which pages need more content, better keyword placement, or improved structure to compete in search results.
Competitor Content Gap Analysis
Scrape competitor page content with AI_SCRAPE, then run AI_SEO_ANALYZE to understand their optimization strategy and identify areas where your content can outperform theirs.
Localized Content Quality Check
Analyze translated content against localized keywords to ensure translations maintain SEO optimization and do not lose keyword relevance during the translation process.
Pro Tips
Pair AI_SEO_ANALYZE with AI_KEYWORDS to first generate related keyword ideas, then analyze your content against each one to find optimization gaps you might have missed.
Create a content audit dashboard by running AI_SEO_ANALYZE on every page, extracting just the "Overall Score" row, and using conditional formatting to create a visual heat map of your site content quality.
Run the analysis before and after editing a page. Compare the scores to quantify the impact of your optimizations and build a case for content investment.
For competitive analysis, scrape competitor content using AI_SCRAPE and analyze it with AI_SEO_ANALYZE using the same target keyword to understand what score you need to beat.
Unlike standalone SEO tools that require you to log into a separate platform, AI_SEO_ANALYZE works right inside your spreadsheet where your content planning already lives. Paste article text into one column and target keywords into another, then drag the formula down to audit dozens or hundreds of pages in a single operation. Each analysis identifies what the content does well, where it falls short, and exactly what changes would improve its chances of ranking. This makes it perfect for content audits where you need to evaluate an entire blog or site section systematically.
When you provide the optional URL parameter, the analysis becomes even more powerful. The function can factor in the live page structure, internal linking, and metadata alongside the content itself. This is especially useful for auditing existing published pages rather than draft content. The output includes metrics like keyword prominence, content depth score, readability grade, and a prioritized list of improvements, giving SEO teams a repeatable, scalable audit process that lives alongside their keyword research and content calendar data.
Common Errors
#ERROR! Content is too shortCause: The content provided contains too few words for meaningful SEO analysis (typically under 50 words).
Fix: Provide more content text. For product pages, include the full description. For articles, paste the complete body text. The function needs enough content to evaluate keyword usage, structure, and depth.
#ERROR! Invalid URLCause: The optional URL parameter contains a malformed URL or a URL that cannot be accessed.
Fix: Ensure the URL starts with "https://" and points to a live, publicly accessible page. If the page is behind authentication, omit the URL and analyze content only.
#VALUE! Target keyword is emptyCause: The targetKeyword parameter is empty or references an empty cell.
Fix: Provide a target keyword or phrase. This is the search term you want the content to rank for. Example: "best CRM for startups".
Frequently Asked Questions
The score is a weighted composite of multiple factors: keyword placement (title, headings, first paragraph), content length relative to top-ranking competitors, semantic coverage of related topics, readability, heading structure, and internal linking. It is a directional guide rather than an absolute ranking predictor.
If the page is already published, include the URL for a more complete analysis that considers title tags, meta descriptions, and page structure. For draft content that has not been published yet, the content-only analysis is sufficient and still highly valuable.
AI_SEO_ANALYZE provides strong on-page optimization analysis directly in your spreadsheet, which is convenient for bulk audits and content calendars. For deep SERP analysis and real-time competitor data, dedicated tools offer additional features. Many SEO professionals use both — AI_SEO_ANALYZE for fast audits in Sheets and specialized tools for deep dives.
The function works well with any content length, from short product descriptions (100+ words) to long-form articles (5,000+ words). For very long content, the analysis focuses on the most important SEO signals and provides the most impactful recommendations.
Yes. The analysis includes keyword density and will flag content that overuses the target keyword. It recommends an optimal density range and suggests using semantic variations and related terms instead of repeating the exact keyword.
The function is optimized for web page content SEO. While the content quality and keyword usage advice applies broadly, platform-specific factors like YouTube tags, video length, or social media hashtags are not part of the analysis.
Related Functions
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